In recognition, honor, and celebration of the physical and spiritual life of Gloria Dean Driver:
The name Gloria is a derivative of the word glory. The definition of glory is:
1. High renown or honor won by notable achievements.
2. Magnificence; great beauty.
3. Take great pride or pleasure in.

I have no doubts that my late grandmother Ernestine’s name selection for my mother was divinely inspired. As a matter of fact, my grandmother called her “Glory”

Gloria had a keen eye for talent and potential. Therefore, all who were ever close or connected to her should know, you are gifted. The only jewelry she wore were pearls, she collected people as her precious stones. She picked and polished diamond, ruby, and emerald souls that others overlooked. Once she saw the good in someone, her focus never swayed from it. There was nothing anyone could say or do to change her view. She nudged and pushed on people’s gifts insisting they be set free and shared with others.

She also knew her own strengths, gifts, and talents. Deeply spiritual on the inside and all business on the outside, her heart was always for community growth, enrichment, and development. She started her first business 37 years ago in Central Los Angeles she named it “Gloria’s Country Store Boutique” with no capital nor investors, she started working a job nights to support her family and business and sewed by day creating her own inventory. Gloria loved the sophisticated style of the 1940's as a result, she soon found her niche in vintage clothing and accessories. She transformed her shop into the first African American vintage clothing boutique in what is now known as the Park Mesa Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. Always ahead of her time she had many brilliant ideas. Long before the worldwide web and social media, she was a net-worker.

She later expanded her business to include vintage linens and antique furniture. She was a pioneer. She revamped and revitalized her business whenever necessary growing it into a multiplicity of outlets to include vintage Expo's and road shows. Because she had a fabulous eye for remarkable pieces, she was a ghost-picker for a number of exclusive vintage dealers around the country supplying them with the amazing pieces that ensured their business success and vitality. She traveled many places to find the best merchandise; she only ever desired the best in everything and everyone. Her selections were showcased in fashion shows, ceremonies, and other major events. She branched off into a corporation:

1. Love Lace Ministries – For several years Gloria was an International Foreign Exchange Student Host. She often gave back to the community always through ministry, cooked and served food to the hungry on Skid Row and in her community many times over the years. During the years her business thrived most, she annually purchased, packaged, and delivered care packages filled with simple accessories and toiletries most people take for granted for the homeless. She constantly donated to multiple charities, provided work for the needy and unemployable.
2. Glory Again – Vintage clothing, accessories, linens, collectibles, and antiques.
3. Us N’ Folk Market Place – Her dream was only half fulfilled of providing an open air market place in the Jefferson Park Area of Los Angeles providing the opportunity for vendors, artists, and entrepreneurs to sell and show case their unique collections of vintage items, art, custom designs, as well as promote and sell remarkable products and services. The market place was to feature a Crab Shack and Café and multiple cultural and historical events.


Gloria was also an evangelist; she led many people to God and ministry.

She was a beloved matriarch of the Driver family, keeping up with everyone; she visited and connected everyone, led and handled a large portion of family responsibilities and duties.

She was a mentor, a master of many talents she taught, groomed, and polished many over the years.

She put special effort and interest into the enrichment of women, encouraging many to start their own businesses and showcase their talents.

She was an amazing cook and her dinner parties and events will be talked about for years to come. She did everything with style and class.

She loved country and gospel music; she loved nature, black memorabilia, all things country and rustic, and everything from the Victorian era to the 1940's. Most of all she loved God.

She was wise, creative, daring, and brave.

Although it may have looked to some like she had little in material possessions towards the latter portion of her life, during her physical journey she made lots of money, yet her goal was never to hoard or keep it. Instead she invested in people. She helped many people over the years and faithfully promoted and supported churches and businesses all over. She invested in several entrepreneurs and inspired and encouraged many others' talents and aspirations. I know with assurance many people that would stand and testify to this fact.


Although my mother never married, she did love, beyond death. I have never met another more faithful than she.


To all those that knew her, I assure you, whatever she told you about your strengths are true. So, as we release her physical body from this plane, I implore you to release your inhibitions and soar like an eagle. Her spirit lives when we allow our little lights to shine.


She held me on a pedestal that I never quite felt I deserved until now. Now I know I am everything she told me I was: Strong, Intelligent, A fierce force to be reckoned with and overall an amazing woman and mother.

I now know this because she was all of those things.

My name is Charlzetta Driver and I Am Glory's daughter.


Gloria "Glory" Driver is survived by her only child and daughter Charlzetta Driver Williams. 4 grandchildren Deborah , Dante, Dakyra, and Chesare. 3 great- grandchildren Jamari, Keori, and Mekiah. 3 brothers Lawrence Driver Sr., and Nathaniel Lynn Ingram , and John Wayne, 1 niece Stephanie Driver and 4 nephews Lawrence Driver Jr., Fred, Jermaine, and Jarrett Driver.

Jimmy was an amazing artist, fashioning beautiful ships and other things from metal and scrap wood. He was fun loving with many friends and took good care of his mother, Peggy Price who lived with him. He enjoyed visiting with his sons, Tommy, Joshua and Matthew, and loved jamming with friends, playing his harmonics and taunting his sister Bev. Though his life was cut short, he's now healed and healthy in Heaven with his loving Savior and his Mom.

Peggy loved everyone. Her cheerful voice and smile made people feel at home. She was generous, encouraging, a wonderful storyteller and veracious reader. Puzzles were no match for her and as she watched "Jeopardy" she'd call out the answers before contestants. She lived her faith as she loved like Jesus, the God she believed in and prayed to. Heaven has been enriched by this beautiful soul who left her imprints on our hearts and lives. How we'll miss her.

March 25, 2015 was a very sad day for a whole lot of people. It was the day that Al Reilly, age 66, passed away. He was a simple and humble guy, who had an impact beyond words on all those lucky enough to know him. He was an inspirational coach, a soul surfer, a phenomenal father, a sincere friend, and simply - the kindest, gentlest spirit you could ever know.

Al was born in New Jersey on October 31, 1948 to Eugene and Helen Reilly. He was one of six kids, which included: Ed and Russell (“the boys”); Al and Arlene (“the twins”); and Patty and Peggy (“the babies”). The family moved to Tucson, Arizona where Al discovered the pool and competitive diving, and then to Torrance, California in his teens, where Al discovered the ocean and the magic of surfing. Even out of the water, Al was a strong and competitive athlete, and led his gymnastic team at South High, and again, as team captain in college. His inspirational leadership extended to his position as Head Coach at Sunnyvale Gymnastics Club, where he taught and mentored girls for 34 years, shaping their lives in immeasurably positive ways. “Coach” doesn’t begin to describe Al’s role in their lives . . . he has spoken at their weddings, attended their graduations, guided and supported them in and outside of the gym, helping them become, as one gymnast said, “a better version of herself.” One after another, girls have loving claimed him as a “second dad,” as well as their undisputed perennial idol.

And to his daughter, Amber, he has, and always will be, the absolute best person she knows - the very first, and everlasting, love of her life. He helped deliver her at home on the kitchen table, with Bob Dylan playing in the background and the dirty faces of the neighborhood kids pressed against the window screens. And since that moment, every experience she has shared with him has been pure bliss. Amber is the first to say how ridiculously lucky she was to have Al as her father . . . and she is grateful for every single second of it.

Although Al was a quiet and gentle soul, he was resolute about the things he believed in and took a strong stand when it was important to do so. He was a Conscientious Objector during the Vietnam War, when he served as an Army medic. He also defended himself at his own Court Marshall, when he, alone, took a stand on the injustices that were occurring in his unit. Even in the end, when diagnosed with vocal chord cancer, Al was clear about his definition of quality of life and chose a path that was absolutely the right one for him. He lived life positively and fully right up to the very end – going for his coffee and cookie, scoping out the surf spots, exercising, reading, telling stories . . . checkin’ things off his To Do List left and right.

Al did some big things in his life that he was proud of, but he strongly believed that it is the little things you do - every single day - that determines the person you are. And every single day, what an amazing, beautiful person he was. He will be loved and remembered forever.

Earl was definitely a one of a kind guy, as he was both funny and outgoing!
He enjoyed many hobbies: hunting, fishing, off-road racing, the mountains, planning his Yo-Hi high school reunions, being with his family, boating at the Colorado river, and of course a good Nascar race. He was survived by his wife Raylene, five daughters, son, two stepdaughters and fifteen grandchildren. His grandchildren were the light of his life. He will be missed greatly!
We will love our Dad and Papa Earl forever.
See more at: https://www.legacy.com/obituaries/azcentral/obituary.aspx?n=Earl-Norman-White

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We will always remember (“Slick”) Earl and the journey taken from the 1950’s in Japan to the present day. Who would have ever thought, this tough guy with an indomitable spirit, would become such a dear friend? This history can only be justified by God’s design and magnificent plan for each of us on life’s road.

It has been an endless couple of weeks of calls and texting between Raylene and us…keeping up with the moment into passing moment of Earl’s condition. There are many questions and unexplained circumstances that haunt our minds. We can only accept God’s divine call and His bidding to rest in His ever-loving arms. I think we can attest, those who pass from sight, often become more present in their passing into Eternity.

Words cannot convey our sadness for his parting from us and our gratitude for all the joy and sincere caring he provided through his unique persona. That sparkling smile that could light up a room, and that mischievous grin remembered in my mind’s eye as a young teen living on Atsugi Naval Station.

Our lives have been enriched by the scope and depth of this friendship, only God could design, with our personal cooperation to be open to the adventures He had in store, through one person, who delighted in extending the invitation and making the experience real for others to benefit and enjoy.

Oh, how Earl looked forward to the annual Yo-Hi reunion with diligent planning and wild anticipation! He never complained; he just carried on with the plan and executed it with precision. First and foremost he was open to accommodating each request and need of those attending. He was a clown, a cut-up, a mensch! Most of all, he was true to himself, he did it his way…and we benefited from knowing him and loving him all these years.

We can continue to pray to and for Earl, but more than that, if we believe, the just souls rest in the Lord, and only God knows the goodness in our hearts,
Earl must surely have a leadership role with the movers and groovers in Heaven. Thanks for the memories, Earl. Peace to you, Amen!

YO-HI Classmate
Rosanne Barone